Yahoo and Nokia announce global partnership

Yahoo and Nokia have announced a partnership to offer messaging and navigation services on mobile and PC, in a deal to let both companies broaden their global reach.

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Yahoo will integrate Nokia’s Ovi Maps service into its online and mobile pages, which will be branded as ’Yahoo Maps, powered by Ovi’.

Nokia will also integrate Yahoo’s messaging technology into its Ovi Mail and Chat services, which will be similarly branded ’Powered by Yahoo’.

The two companies intend to integrate the services to make it easier for people to use their Ovi user IDs across Yahoo.

The move will give the Nokia and Ovi brands increased exposure in the US, where its share of the handset market doesn’t reflect its global dominance. Similarly, the deal will give Yahoo exposure to a mobile audience in emerging markets.

Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO of Nokia, said, “We’re enabling millions of Yahoo customers in key markets including North America to discover the unique capabilities that Ovi Maps brings. Similarly, Yahoo’s online expertise will bring exciting mail and messaging enhancements to millions of Ovi Mail customers, many of whom will have their first internet experience on their mobile.”

The co-branded services are expected to launch in certain markets in the second half of the year, with full global rollout expected in 2011.

Carol Bartz, CEO of Yahoo, said, “We’re excited to expand the reach of our best-in-class Mail and Messenger services, bringing personalised experiences to more people across the mobile web, particularly in emerging markets where we’re seeding the next generation of Yahoo users.”

This story first appeared on nma.co.uk

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